Night visitor(s)

[mummm]

Something is trying to destroy our patio a few things at a time

Comments

[pondhopper]

It really does sound like raccoon damage to me.
Sneaky critters and that one was on a rampage. I'm glad it wasn't in the mood for a fish dinner. Woodchucks can also do that kind of harm and they're BIG.

[mummm]

I don't think it was a woodchuck. Whatever it was would have had to climb to get into the patio.

The thing may have been after a drink of water? Robert thinks it fell in though.

[deltamiss]

Dang raccoons! They are cute but totally destructive!

When we first moved here, Melanie and Jeff got an outside dog that stayed in an enclosure. We are overrun with rabbits around here and Padmé would create such a fuss when one came into sight that MELANIE took a BB gun to the rabbit one night. It was as if the rabbit was taunting the dog. I don't blame Robert, but be prepared for it to come back. Raccoons, like rabbits, are not easily deterred. :/

[mummm]

Oh I know! :^(

Raccoons

[naomi_sue]

Sounds like one to me too. We have them in abundance here also, and I didn't realize that they were night critters, with an adoration for trash cans. Are yours stored outside or in the garage until trash day? Back when I was trying to be proactive and set the trash out the evening before, they tore the daylights out of not only that but anything else they could find in the yard, of interest. We've not had a problem since then, but then I no longer go out to the back at night either...Deer on the otherhand are early morning day creatures and are eating our hostas. Can't use any guns in the city here either. Not legally anyway. :)

Re: Raccoons

[mummm]

Oh yes, raccoons are noctunal! Our garbage bins are located in the garage so I don't think they were after those.

Re: Raccoons - nocturnal

[naomi_sue]

I found that out when I spied one skittering about in the oak tree, in broad daylight. It looked funny, but I thought it was cute, so grabbed my husband to come see. The one I adore immediately called the police to take it down - because they can, legitimately. Turned out it WAS rabid. Thankfully it never got to any of our pets around here, as most people have invisible fences and let their pups out without fear or having to stand guard over them. That could have become quite the scare. But....we live in the city outside of the bigger city, and my FIL ALWAYS kept his pellet gun next the sliding glass doors. He didn't hesitate to use it either. That's all I'm saying about that... LOL

Re: Raccoons - nocturnal

[mummm]

Oh yes, you HAVE to beware of the Rabies. There are raccoons in the Dunes and some have been found with the disease. It's dangerous because people think they are cute and try to feed them! Then they turn into BAD pests.

[jazzyglo]

Do you have a lot of raccoons around there?

Go for it, Robert! hehe

[mummm]

Yes, there are TONS of raccoons around here. The winter before last I looked out on the patio and there were three babies climbing around in the big tree that used to be there.

[lil_mikey]

Probably a raccoon. Go to Ace Hardware and rent one of their large animal traps. On your way back home pick up some Kentucky Fried Chicken. Put the trap out. You'll have the intruder caught within the night. No joke either.

I've caught 8 using this method since we moved into our house last April. Although I ended up just buying a trap because I was renting it so often.

[mummm]

Good idea... but then what did you do with the eight raccoons?

[jackielynn]

Dropped them off at a nature preserve off of US 149. Right by that Deep River archery place and whatever the other road is there, maybe 600? Figured that was far enough away that they would not wander back to my house, and that they would have plenty of space.

Actually only some of them went there, 5 of them went to wildlife rehabilitators. The mother was injured, and the other 4 were her little baby coons so I contacted a couple places and found someone who could take them all in and give them proper care.

[mummm]

That's super!